The daughter of Qué Vida Buena virtually took four of her rivals out of contention and went wire to wire for the victory. However, no jockey lodged an objection—nor did the stewards intervene...
Argentine racing continues to ignore a simple truth: in the end, it’s all about money—both on and off the track. That’s why incidents like the one in Wednesday’s Handicap Perrier (1100m, dirt), the feature race at Hipódromo de San Isidro, come as no surprise.
It’s hard to understand how, after a disastrous break in which Vida Real (56), the eventual winner, completely wiped out the chances of four of her rivals by veering sharply inward, there was no objection from any jockey—nor did the stewards step in, as they should have.
On a track and at a distance where a quality horse opening up a couple of lengths early is nearly impossible to reel in, both professionals and officials seemed to forget about the betting public—the very foundation of the sport.
Perhaps Vida Real would have won regardless, but what about Aiyanna (Santillano, 57.5); she, too, might have had a fair shot if the chaotic start hadn’t left her at the back of the pack, forcing her to launch a sustained rally from far behind. She closed powerfully to finish third, just 2 1/2 lengths behind Vida Real, who led every step of the way to score by 1 1/2 lengths over the favorite, Joy Melódica (Fortify, 60.5)—one of the few to escape trouble.
The inquiry sign never went up, and the result was made official, sparking justified outrage from the betting public—including numerous complaints on Turf Diario’s social media channels. It was a glaring oversight by both stewards and riders—one that, in this day and age, with the technology available, is simply indefensible.
As for the jockeys, they must be the first to file objections when interference is clear and obvious—whether out of the gate or in the final 100 meters. The public’s trust is vital to keeping the business alive. One day, they’ll realize it—or the riders’ guilds will make sure they do.
For Vida Real, ridden by Brian Enrique and trained by César Peralta, this was the fifth and most significant victory of a brief yet efficient campaign—one that speaks volumes about her ability..
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